Osteom?

Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with a benign tumor located on my skull—it’s essentially part of the bone itself. For the first two years, it showed some growth, but since then, it has remained largely stagnant. Based on my own research, I suspect it might be an osteoma, though I haven't been able to track down my original medical records to confirm. Now, I am looking to schedule a follow-up, and I find myself wondering: is an MRI sufficient to get a clear picture of the current situation? I believe my previous scans were just standard X-rays or perhaps a CT scan, but I have always operated under the assumption that an MRI provides superior detail. I am simply unsure if the clarity will be comparable.
Furthermore, I need to know if this diagnosis poses any risks regarding pregnancy. I don't have children yet, but it is a consideration.
Ideally, I would prefer to have it surgically removed, as it is quite an aesthetic nuisance. However, my father is constantly hovering and trying to dissuade me; he keeps telling me this horror story about a woman who had a bony protrusion on her arm surgically removed, only to suffer from chronic pain for the rest of her life.

Olivia White2 said:Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with a benign tumor located on my skull—it’s essentially part of the bone itself. For the first two years, it showed some growth, but since then, it has remained largely stagnant. Based on my own research, I suspect it might be an osteoma, though I haven't been able to track down my original medical records to confirm. Now, I am looking to schedule a follow-up, and I find myself wondering: is an MRI sufficient to get a clear picture of the current situation? I believe my previous scans were just standard X-rays or perhaps a CT scan, but I have always operated under the assumption that an MRI provides superior detail. I am simply unsure if the clarity will be comparable.
Furthermore, I need to know if this diagnosis poses any risks regarding pregnancy. I don't have children yet, but it is a consideration.
Ideally, I would prefer to have it surgically removed, as it is quite an aesthetic nuisance. However, my father is constantly hovering and trying to dissuade me; he keeps telling me this horror story about a woman who had a bony protrusion on her arm surgically removed, only to suffer from chronic pain for the rest of her life.

Where exactly on the head is it located, and what is the size of the growth?
Operating in such a delicate area isn't exactly a simple matter.

I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't be able to have children—there shouldn't be any obstacles there at all.

"(An osteoma is a benign tumor composed of bone tissue—specifically, mature bony trabeculae. It can exist deep within the bone or protrude from its surface, most frequently appearing on the skull where it may bulge into the orbit or the paranasal sinuses.)"

Here are a few examples regarding the surgical removal of forehead osteomas:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3634204/

http://www.lovethatface.com/2012/12/...eir-treatment/

http://exploreplasticsurgery.com/tag/forehead-osteoma/

Regarding forehead osteomas:
"Forehead osteomas are a relatively common and benign condition where a knob of normal bone forms under the skin. They can occur at birth, develop over many years, or develop quite rapidly.
Because these bony lumps aren't mobile, they are generally harmless and typically present no issues beyond mere cosmetic concerns. Interestingly, some patients endure this condition for years simply because they remain unaware that treatment is usually nothing more than a straightforward office procedure."

It appears that jaw osteomas are also relatively frequent:

"This is a benign, slow-growing bony outgrowth, most commonly located in the mandible or the anterior sinuses, typically surfacing in individuals over the age of 40.

Treatment is surgical and involves a peripheral osteotomy of the tumor. Given its benign nature and the lack of tendency toward recurrence, a segmental resection of the jaw is not indicated for this type of tumor."

Of all various types of osteomas, the sinus osteoma is undoubtedly the most prevalent.

Bryan Barnes2 said:Where exactly on the head is it located, and what is the size of the growth?
Operating in such a delicate area isn't exactly a simple matter.

I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't be able to have children—there shouldn't be any obstacles there at all.

It’s right on my forehead—exactly where that girl in the third link from my previous post had hers. It looks identical, though mine is slightly larger. She ended up having surgery after three years, whereas I’ve been dealing with this for seven, and frankly, the aesthetic aspect is becoming quite bothersome.
Once I realized online that people frequently opt for removal strictly for cosmetic reasons—rather than medical necessity—I decided I wanted it surgically removed as well. My plan is to start with my primary care physician to get a referral to a specialist (presumably someone specializing in cranial surgery?). I just hope there's a surgeon in the USA who performs these types of procedures.

Here is my update 🙂
I just underwent neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic. Both the surgeon and I are incredibly pleased with how everything turned out. This was a significantly more complex procedure than a standard bone shaving for a classic osteoma, primarily due to a few complications. The pre-op CT scan revealed that the tumor had actually penetrated nearly the entire length of the bone in that area. Consequently, once the tumor was removed, the surgeons had to reconstruct the site using a bone-mimicking material to prevent any unsightly indentation. They managed to handle the removal and the reconstruction all in one single session—which I feel is worth highlighting, as I have heard horror stories about patients undergoing the removal first, only to be left with a hollowed-out area, then having to decide if they even have the energy to return for a second surgery to fix it. Furthermore, during the actual procedure, it became evident that we weren't dealing with a textbook osteoma after all; the mass was highly vascularized, which required much more intensive work from the surgeon. Most importantly, the biopsy results came back clear. The incision itself was made in a crescent shape tucked right under my hairline. Since they had to shave the area around the cut during surgery, I am currently sporting a headband whenever I step outside until my hair grows back. We could have opted for a smaller incision on the forehead, but that would have been far too conspicuous, and since aesthetics are quite important to me, the surgeon wisely chose the longer, more discreet route under the hair.

The pain is non-existent. I experienced some minor discomfort around the incision site during the first week, but that has already subsided.
I am sharing this primarily to encourage anyone dealing with a similar lump on their face or head to stop procrastinating and get it addressed.